Gutter slopes the wrong way

[tomtheelder2020]

The section of six inch deep gutters behind my garage have a downspout at one end. The other end of the gutter is about 1.5" lower, meaning water stands in that end until it evaporates. A great breeding pond for mosquitos. The gutters were installed with my new roof 3 years ago and I am NOT going to try to re-hang them. Anyone have a idea for a liquid I could pour into the gutter that would self level and then harden, filling the low end? Thanks.

 

[havasu]

Self leveling compound would only make level, and the weight alone will rip out the gutters. You must lift the gutters to about 1/8" or greater per foot to work properly. Gutter lifting is a common, easy repair.

 

[Steve123]

How about adding another downspout ?
Not too difficult.

 

[tomtheelder2020]

How about adding another downspout ?
Not too difficult.

This is about a 40-ft run of gutter so it probably should have 2 downspouts - if only I could. The existing downspout is at a corner of the garage and outlets to my back lawn. From there, the gutter runs across the back of the garage, across the breezeway, and abuts the house. Everything below is concrete except at the existing downspout. The only way to install another downspout would be to cut the concrete and install a drain line. That ain't happening. The good news is that it drains a relatively small roof area (just back half of garage & breezeway) and hasn't been overwhelmed by even the worst storms in the 32 years I have lived here.

Self leveling compound would only make level, and the weight alone will rip out the gutters. You must lift the gutters to about 1/8" or greater per foot to work properly. Gutter lifting is a common, easy repair.

I don't know yet how much a cement leveling compound weighs when cured - I have inquiries out. However, something like "Fix-a-Floor" looks like it might work pretty well and the liquid weighs only 20% more than water. That certainly would not be enough to over-stress the gutter. In fact, my concern about using this product is that it is water based and once cured (i.e. presumably water evaporates) it might be lighter than water and float. What I need is a very low viscosity product that cures with a specific gravity about 1.2 - 1.5

Writing the above gave me the idea to check specific gravity of cement; it is about 3. That means filling the gutter to level with SOLID cement would add the equivalent of about 3 inches of water (2 x 1.5 inches) above what it would weigh when full of water. However, the cement wouldn't be solid. The viscosity of products I have seen on youtube is so low that I would not be surprised if they were at least 50% water. Saturated during a rain event, would actually only add a weight equivalent to about 1.5 inches of water. I suspect the gutters could handle that, and certainly could if I add a couple of extra hangers - especially as that maximum weight only occurs at one end. Hmm... I think I might have talked myself into something.

BTW, yes positive drainage is better than a flat bottom, but a flat bottom should drain sufficiently that I won't have a mosquito farm.

 

[Eddie_T]

Would it be practical to create another outlet with a rain chain and ornamental storage barrel? The water could be used for watering plants. Or maybe just n outlet that could be opened after a rain to drain the gutter.

 

[tomtheelder2020]

Would it be practical to create another outlet with a rain chain and ornamental storage barrel?

I would still need to get the water across concrete pavement that gets a lot of foot traffic and I haven't figured out a way to do that.

Or maybe just n outlet that could be opened after a rain to drain the gutter.

Not sure how I could do this but a very intriguing idea. I will give it some thought.

 

[Eddie_T]

It can be a challenge but I have seen some clever designs to divert rainwater away from houses both elevated and surface but they have to be situationally specific and architecturally attractive.

 

[tomtheelder2020]

It can be a challenge but I have seen some clever designs to divert rainwater away from houses both elevated and surface but they have to be situationally specific and architecturally attractive.

You have given me an idea I am going to explore. I might be able to install a drain consisting of, say, 1/4 inch tubing that could extend unobtrusively down the side of the house, then tucked against the bottom step between the back door and the breezeway, then along the edge of the concrete to the lawn. It wouldn't help with storm relief but should drain the mosquito swamp.

 

[bud16415]

Just drill a 1/4 hole in the low end. During a rain 99% will flow the correct direction and a little will leak out. No different than the rain missing the gutter and landing below it. Once the rain is over it will drain out.

 

[Guttersmiths]

I would either re-hang the gutter so it's sloped properly, or add a second downspout. To add the second spout, cut a new hole, insert the new outlet, apply sealant, install the new spout. You can also just drill a hole and let the water drain out, like the above post recommended, but I think controlling the water with a downspout is a better long term solution.